Broyles, Slay participate in Detroit Lions team drills

Detroit Lions wide receiver Ryan Broyles (84) makes a catch in the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Monday, Oct. 22, 2012. The Bears won 13-7. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

ALLEN PARK — Apparently Adrian Peterson is not the only NFL player who can make a speedy comeback from anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

Ryan Broyles, who had ACL surgery on Dec. 6, participated in team drills at the Detroit Lions minicamp on Tuesday. It was a step up for Broyles who had been on the field, but doing only individual drills during OTAs (organized team activities) the past several weeks.

“It was a last-minute decision for him, I think he felt pretty good. He made some plays which is a positive sign for us,’’ quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “... He’s a guy who can be chain mover, (and) at the same time can be explosive in there.’’

Broyles also came off ACL surgery last year in his rookie season. He missed the first two games, then played in 10 straight before tearing the ACL in his other knee on Dec. 2 in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He underwent surgery on Dec. 6.

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“(Broyles) had a great rehab. He’s working really hard,’’ coach Jim Schwartz said. “He’s done a little bit more each time and he’s really the only one of that group that’s on a long-term rehab.

“It’s been a long time for him, second year in a row with an ACL. But, you know, every time he’s gone out on the field he’s made plays and he did the same thing today. He’s still not 100 percent, but he’s able to sort of pick and choose some spots in practice and he looked good,’’ Schwartz added.

Slay also steps it up

Cornerback Darius Slay, who had minor knee surgery after the Lions drafted him in the second round at the end of April, also participated in team drills for the first time this offseason. During OTAs he had done only individual drills.

And, like Broyles, he made plays, including a pair of interceptions, although on at least one the play would have been negated by an offside penalty.

“The thing that was encouraging with that is to have enough awareness to know when the defense is offside that the offense, you know, has free rein to take a shot down the field. The thing that was also good is his ability to put his body in good position and leap and time that and find that football,’’ Schwartz said.

“Those are the things we saw from him at Mississippi State. He hasn’t been on the practice field very much for us. He’s just now sort of getting into it where he’s going through team (drills) and all the other stuff that we do. But he’s picking it up quickly and athletically, he looks like he has some pretty good skills. You know, we need to see more of it,’’ the coach added.

Slay is in competition to be a starting cornerback alongside Chris Houston.

Kickalicious kicks with ease

Havard “Kickalicious” Rugland put on a football helmet for the first time a month ago at the start of rookie minicamp.

The Norwegian soccer kicker, who is hoping to translate his kicking ability to the NFL, has made strides since then.

Tuesday he was perfect on a long string of field goals — ending with a 50-yard effort that split the uprights. When he was kicking, it was with such ease that it didn’t look like he was totally following through. It resembled a chip shot in golf.

“He made some nice field goals today. He’s obviously got a strong leg. Every step you try to temper, ‘Well, let’s see what happens when there’s a snapper or holder out there, let’s see what happens when he’s got a defense that’s rushing at him.’ I don’t know how much we can rush right now, it’s hard to say. Let’s see what happens when it’s, you know, in the middle of practice rather than on their own on the side. He’s passed all those tests. Every step along the way he’s done a good job with that,’’ Schwartz said.

Rugland’s next big step will be in the preseason games — his first time to play a football game at any level.

“He’s done a nice job working through all the different things that are new to him. That’s encouraging to see,’’ Schwartz said. “He doesn’t over-kick and a lot of guys have a tendency to. You get those 55-yarders and those longer kicks, he’s got plenty of leg strength. There are a lot of golfers that have that, you know, the Ernie Els and Fred Couples, they just never swing hard. You’ve got to have enough strength to be able to do that and he does.”

Dave Akers was signed to replace Jason Hanson while Rugland was signed to a contract with no guaranteed money. Both are lefties which helps the punter, who has to learn to hold the ball just one way.